[Derek]

Spick and span

All the Directors of the NCCA donate their time and pay the same subscription rates as the rest of the members.
In essence they subsidise the NCCA

I don't know where you get the idea that the NCCA are making vast amounts of money from but you are totally misguided... The NCCA revenue covers the operating costs and goes towards promoting carpet/upholstery cleaning...you may not think that they do anything but that is so far from the truth also.

[spickandspan]

Mark what is this new standard??? please explain

[mark_roberts]

Not sure of the exact details but it is a code of practice for carpet cleaning to british standards so i believe.  So the customer knows with confidence you cleaning her carpet to an accepted standard.

It makes no difference if your customers dont know who the NCCA are as its up to you to use your membership as a selling point by expaining the benefits to them.  I wish some of you guys and your attitudes where my competitors as my life would be so much easier.

Think about it.

Mark

[Andy Hogarth]

Hi Mike, Welcome.

I too am planning to start up shortly and also on a tight budget. My advice to you is don't commit to any machine/brand till you have hung around a while, looked at the many companys about or spoken to local cleaners. When I first started looking into a machine everytime I got info sent through from another company I was sold on that one Now I've narrowed it down to a couple, If you want I'll email you all the company websites that I've looked into regarding machines, also consider factors such as location of supplier. Through this board I get great advice both on the forum and email and one company in particular gives plenty of excellent advice and has offered a machine demo

My main concentration at the moment is marketing, A very important factor, just search the boards for great advice and don't be afraid to ask, everyone is helpfull and it's a laugh when they start arguing between themselves, It's usually the case that these guys are agreeing about something totally different on another thread Again through this board I've been sent some brilliant samples of flyers and made some great contacts/mentors who seem to always have time for my queries

Personally as far as training goes for me I plan to do a hands on course as soon as I can afford it, Then I'd like to get either NCCA or IICRC not only because I believe you need to know the theory behind c/c but I believe it looks good to firms when marketing especially commercial. Also when I first joined this board a very nice guy offered to take me out with his organisation and show me the ropes so hopefully I'll be able to take him up on this offer soon.

As I have no cash yet and my full business depends on selling my vw campervan I just read read read old posts on here,print them out and ask if I'm unsure about out. I got myself a craftex manual from www.restormate.co.uk and registered with shell live wire a business starting company, free advice and tools, This way I'm always working on my planned business and hopefully will get it right

I'm hoping to be able to afford a second hand van out of my vw sale and an old mate of mine (soon to be rekindled ) Sprays vehicles and is a dab hand at graphics so I'll have him tidy it up and personalise it, I've seen a few on autotrader.co.uk around my price.

I wish you all the luck mate and I can't offer much help but what I can is yours

Andy

p.s. Make sure to check out the shell live wire, on a c.d. they send out to you there is a comprehensive list of many organisations that will help you start up, Many offer grants for starting up a business after redundancy. I can also email you this list if you want.

[craigp]

mark,

          you say use NCCA as a selling point, my work comes with no competition, so if i told them all about NCCA were would that get me i get the job,

if i never mentioned NCCA i get the job.

i can see in y/p it may help.  but for me, now, i could go on till blue in the face about NCCA it would make no difference to my work load.

[Mike Osbourne]

Thanks for all the advice guys, really appreciated, some things are clearer in my mind now, some are a little more confused.

I must do some training, I know absolutely nothing currently, I will however start reading that ebook. The next two NCCA courses are booked up but I've seen another one with a CFR dist, although I'm starting to revert back to my 2nd hand kit option and get a van.

There also seems to be doubt as to whether my location will support my needs and what's this 7 years to get established, does that mean make a profit or the phone ring regularly from a customer base?

 

[Neil Grainger]

Mark

I come accross a number of NCCA mebers when quoting and dont not find that they have a advantage over me in my area.

What sells my business is the testamonials that i get all my customers to complete. I even give them copies so they can contact customers. This is as good as referals and certainly better than being a member of the NCCA as it stands at the moment. The one thing I do miss is the information about changes to the cleaning business that they provide which is of a very high standard.

If they are going to link into the BSI then that would be good but the criteria for this will be very high and it wont be just about the cleaning. In one of my past jobs I used to be Quality Control Manager for an IT company and to get the acreditation you had to do some serious work with loborious amounts of paper work. If the NCCA have found a way round this then it would be worth joining but they still have to get the customers involved and know who they are and why they should use a NCCA Member. A CC saying this is like saying I am the best cleaner in the area, it means nothing to the customer at the moment because they dont no who they are.

[Liahona]

Mike, best of luck mate with whatever you chose to do. Just be carful when making the choice on a machine to get. Each and all have their good and bad points so weigh them up and whatever machine ends up on top maybe you should look into a bit more....... Off the subject but to what is also being talked about..............About the N.C.C.A.........  Paul Pearce and many of the people to do with the company have my utmost respect for the time and effort they put in to help not only ourselves but to the industry. However and I must say that I am hugely dissappointed with what it is they do. I must admit that at 250 pounds a year for a free magazine I think is a little steep. I would rather pay thousands and get a service. Maybe their hands are tied but as you know I deal with very high end people and companies and they havent heard of the N.C.C.A. I would like to see them somehow educate the public and suppliers of what it is that they do and what it is that we do. I am not saying that the I.I.C.R.C. is any better but during the last year they have referred me to 3 designers of which supply me with many clients. In comparison I havent heard a peep out of the N.C.C.A. On the whole I know that the general public dont have an idea about either but I try to get my prospective clients to look for themselves on both web sites. Of course I am on both sites but that is the whole idea. Sorry to sop box on here but the subject was sort of being talked about...... Again I have nothing against Paul or anyone to do with and the N.C.C.A. I just want more from them, maybe I want too much??? Best, Dave.......

[Steve Chapman]

For what its worth i've been c/c  for over ten years and never done any training, but have actually decided to do the ncca course in may,  :

I think these organizations are going to have more and more meaning as time goes by and i've actually had customers ask if i'm a member just recently, and i think as you move your business up a gear it can be useful to have these trade bodies behind you, if not only to command a bit more respect and charge a bit more money
regards
steve

[Martin S]

Dave,

I have had the opposite experience!  Enquiries via the NCCA that have easily paid for membership, but I've never had one enquiry via the IICRC.   

I did ask myself whether it was worth paying the IICRC subs this year!  If I don't get anything this year I will seriously consider not renewing next year.

I know IICRC are big in the US, but what exactly DO the IICRC do in the UK?  No newsletters, no referrals, no enquiries, no percieved advertising etc!! 

[Liahona]

Martin, although we have had different experiences with each of the organizations I agree entirely with what it is you are saying. Also I know the I.I.C.R.C. are more to do with the states....... My point is and I hope I will be proved wrong in due course is that at least the I.I.C.R.C. trys to educate the public as to the need for carpets to be cleaned and are involved with the manufacturers of carpeting be it at present as far as I know in the states. Again I have nothing against the N.C.C.A. just want more from them. Where I used to work in California  carpet suppliers would introduce their customers to the I.I.C.R.C.  so that when needed at least the customer of thiers would have a better chance of finding a better cleaner as opposed to the bait and switchers. This was brought on by the I.I.C.R.C. inviting carpet suppliers to attend a carpet cleaning course so that they in turn could pass on some sort of better knowledge to the customer. At least at this point the customer would know that they need their carpets cleaned  once a year if not more and that it would be best to find an I.I.C.R.C. member to do so. I would like to see the same or similar from the N.C.C.A........... Last thing as to the question of what do the I.I.C.R.C. do here in England. They do run courses that are respected world wide. As an I.I.C.RC. member I was automatically "allowed" into the N.C.C.A.  whereas the N.C.C.A. is only respected here. Not that that is a bad thing but more for a point. For those who do look at credentials which I know is a very few then all you can do with the I.I.C.R.C. which is actualy a great deal, far outweighs what it is the N.C.C.A.  can offer. Hopfully this will soon change. Best, Dave.

[ABLECLEAN]

Hi guys, I agree that training is paramount but In 5 years I have only been asked 3 times if I belong to a trade organisation and I still booked 2 of them!!

[House Buddies]

Hi
I have recently come back into carpet cleaning after a years break, I have been established before that for 11 years. The only way to suceed is through hard work and determination, there is work out there you have to get out and get it. Everyday I am not carpet cleaning I am out meeting poss contacts leafleting, putting up leaflets in shops, just generally being seen around. this is my 3rd week back and I have a £700 profit week!
I am now going to re build my old database and send out letters saying I am around, yuo need to find parish magazines as well. You must go where no other carpet cleaner goes and attack the market.
Dont get me wrong I have friends in the industry local to me but they are competitors as well, I have kids to feed etc but we do work together if ones sick we help out !

So if you are starting drop leaflets, and be a business man its all about marketing and selling yourself then the job, but do get trainning or go with a carpet cleaner for a week for free I am sure someone will offer.
If you came to Norfolk you could work with me not just on cleaning but on marleting as well.

Its now 4.57am and Im off to my first job £150! should be finished by 11 then onto the next!
I would not swap it to work for anyone else again!

Cheers

[Derek]

Just to pick up on several points...

IICRC is a Certification Board NOT a Trade Association. it's shareholders are the various US Trade Associations plus two Associations in Australia and of course the NCCA here in the UK.
The NCCA do deal with carpet Manufacturers and are currently involved in promotional schemes with two of them.

The NCCA are working on the Carpet Cleaning PAS 86 together with BSI, this will be a Code of Practice for the Industry.
PAS (Publically Available Specification) is currently in draft form and will be reviewed by a steering committee in June.. Once it has been put into shape it will go to and industry Review Board....it should finally be ready for publication in October of this year.
It will be made available to all specifically manufacturers, retailers, Trading Standards, Insurance Companies and your customers.
Recently the NCCA website has been revamped to make it easier to circumnavigate.. it is currently being used more and more with requests for technical information from members of the public, magazine and other media (radio and TV) researchers.

Several of you comment on the NCCA's aparent lack of promotion...I would like to draw your attention to your own marketing...look at the poor return from leaflets, yellow pages adverts etc.
The NCCA do a great deal of promotional work but we cannot make people read...you would be amazed how quickly they make contact seeking NCCA advice when something goes wrong though.

[Liahona]

Derek, thanks for your post and more to the point I was glad to hear what is in the near future going to happen. With regards your comment on our own marketing but in this case obviously just mine, I wouldnt ever use leaflets or yellow pages for I think are obvious reasons. My concern that I touched on earlier is that I think no one but I will say almost no one that I deal with have heard of the N.C.C.A. I deal with 2 huge suppliers of commercial carpets and also architects, designers and the like. .... Again just a thought that if they new about the N.C.C.A. wouldnt life be so much easier for us as carpet cleaners and I feel this way the public would be more aware of "us" in general....... But as I said I am glad to hear of what it is that they are doing. Best, Dave.

[gwrightson]

Talking of the IIRCR`, I did hear rumours, that not in the too distant future, any undertaking of c/c on commercial premises," were certain manufactures have given warrenties on their carpets" the cleaning of the said carpets, must be carried out by a c/c who has a IICRC certificate, otherwise the warranty becomes void!!! something to bear in mind for the future, if this is the case
  Geoff

[Liahona]

Geoff, this is certainly true in the states, it would be a good thing if it happened here. Best, Dave.

[Ian Gourlay]

Mike,

Make sure you do a hands on course , not a theory based.

[Mike Osbourne]

Ian,

Sure thing, I see cleansmart offer a IIRC 1 day with a machine. Does anyone know whether this would be adequate? The site suggested the two day jobby would be a bit much for a newbie.

Also their CFR machines are £500 more than Amtech. Both companies are about same distance away but amtech seem less helpful to newbies, just supply kit and tech supp?

As I'm sat on my chuff, I'd gladly work a couple of days for nowt if I could get a feel for the business. Keen to go door knocking too.

[cleansmartsupplies]

Hi Mike,

The IICRC course is a two day course, there is also a one day 'hands-on' course you might find more useful if you don't have any experience.

Amtech's prices don't include wand (£430) and hoses (£290)!

Hope that's helpful,
Matt